Rise Daily: April 11

Rise Daily: April 11

THIS WEEK’S THEME & PASSAGE

Faith and Work – Isaiah 60:1-14

This week’s sermon from the series “Where We are Going: The City and the Mission“

THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE

Memorizing scripture is a way to keep God’s word close to our hearts. Each week we will select one verse of scripture to remember as a community.

Isaiah 60:1

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

THE WORD

Each day’s devotion will focus on one part of the week’s passage.

Isaiah 60:1-2

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.

MEDITATION ON THE WORD

In our busyness and distraction, it is easy to skim through our reading rather than taking it in. Yet we believe this is the inspired word of God. Take a moment to pause, thank God for the scriptures and ask him to speak to you through them today.

Isaiah was a prophet of God to the nation of Judah during the 8th century BC. The prophets functioned as national prosecutors within the theocratic state. God’s Law, expressed in the scriptures written by Moses, was the ultimate authority. The kings of Israel and Judah had no sovereignty above it. If they strayed from the Law, essentially putting themselves above God, the prophets spoke.

Isaiah prophesied during a time when the nation was in spiritual and moral disarray.  Total collapse loomed. In this time of tension, Isaiah both chastised and encouraged; he brought judgment and hope. In fact, he brought the greatest hope imaginable: he spoke of the coming King of kings and the realm he would inaugurate. Isaiah foretold that the capital city of Jerusalem, though poised for destruction, would one day be resurrected. In that day, the Messiah King would rule in such a way as to bring a king of justice and flourishing the world had never experienced. Multitudes from every nation would be drawn to this city, for its just economy and its perfect infrastructure, and would bring their gifts and skills to maximally contribute to its glory and to enjoy its great benefits.

As Isaiah holds out the promise of this new world, anchored in the solid rock of God’s law, his hearers, then and today, are able to contrast it with the world they are experiencing. They are suffocating in the darkness of unjust governance. Yet, from this oppressive darkness rises a light that is nothing less than the brilliance of the glory of God.  This shining light is an objective reality that powerfully dispels the thick darkness that covers the earth.

God’s rising glory can uniquely transform the hearts of people as his light shines upon them.  Yet, there also is something much more profoundly comprehensive happening—it’s not just about the one city, though it begins there. God’s glory is awakening the whole earth.  It is the dawn of a new world—a new creation.

THIS WEEK’S RISE REFLECTION

Our vision to serve our city will need more than a strategic plan: it will require bold dependence on the gospel. You are invited into this vision that is not about building a bigger church, but about activating a people-driven movement of serving our neighbor. It starts right where God has placed you. As we get ready for Commitment Week starting on April 17, what difference would you want your commitment to Rise to make in your heart and life?

TODAY’S PRAYER

For your Heart: Take a moment to reflect on the motivations that get you up each day. In light of these motivations, pray that he would align your heart to a new creation and a new renewed city.

For your Church: Pray for the promise of a new creation to be the driving motivation for our church. Pray for our church to be a new creation–a community of people being transformed by the gospel and serving him in our work, home and calling.

For our City: Praise him for all in our city working and striving in their calling to bring honor to God and allowing many a glimpse of his wonder and splendor throughout this city.